Cemeteries

Census

The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 U.S. federal population schedules of Wayne County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Utah Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in national indexes, try checking local indexes. Created by experts familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than nationwide indexes.

Early, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, church records for Wayne County Wards and Branches can be found on film and are located at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers, for each ward or Branch, can be located through the Library Catalog at FamilySearch Or by refering to Jaussi, Laureen R., and Gloria D. Chaston. Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers. 2 vols. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (FHL book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507). These volumes contain the film numbers for many (but not all) membership and temple record films.

Caineville

Fremont

Giles (Torrey)

Grover

Hanksville

Loa

Lyman

Teasdale

Thurber

Torrey

Wayne Stake

Court Records

Court Records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Wayne County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

The Family History Library has two Wayne County histories in its collection in Salt Lake City, Utah which can be accessed by visiting the Library. These books may also be available through interlibrary loan.

A History of Wayne County, by Mariam B Murphy (a Utah Historical Society publication) 979.254 H2m. It can also be purchased at the County Clerk's office in Loa.

Rainbow Views: a History of Wayne County, by Anne Snow (a Daughters of Utah Pioneers publication) 979.254 H2s 1977.

Interesting Facts

Hanksville was a supply post for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, who would hide out at Robbers Roost in the desert southeast of town.

History Timeline

NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wikipedia for Wayne County, Utah.

1853-54. Fremont was named after the explorer John C. Fremont, who passed through on his last and near fatal winter expedition to the west. It lies along State Route 72 just northeast of the town of Loa.

1879. A.K. Thurber, built the first house in Thurber.

1880's. Torrey is established as a town by Mormon settlers, and initially known as Youngstown, after John Willard Young. Located on State Route 24 in, eight miles from Capitol Reef National Park.

1881. More cattlemen settled along Fish Creek. These early settlers referred to their settlement as Carcass Creek (now Grover).

1885 Hanksville took the name, after Ebenezer Hanks, who was the leader of the group of pioneers who established the small Mormon settlement.

1887 The Mormon residents in Carcass Creek were organized into a congregation called the Carcass Creek Branch.

1890s The growing town of Carcass Creek was granted a post office, and the name was changed to Grover in honor of U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

1892 Wayne County was created 10 March 1892 from Piute County. Most of its towns were settled after 1880 because of the remote location and limited resources. County seat: Loa [3]

1893 Lyman was originally known as East Loa and became a distinct place from Loa.The original townsite was changed to the present location at the advice of Apostle Francis M. Lyman and was named in honor of him.

1897 The town of Thurber moved to a new location due to sandy soil and poor water conditions and became Bicknell, a town along State Route 24 in Wayne County, Utah, United States.

1900 The first log school/church/community building was built in Grover.

1914Thomas W. Bicknell, a wealthy eastern author, historian, and Education Commissioner for Rhode Island, offered a thousand-volume library to any Utah town that would rename itself after him. The town of Grayson also wanted the library prize, so in a compromise in 1916, Grayson took the name of Blanding, Mr. Bicknell's wife's maiden name, as a tribute to her parents. The two towns split the library, each receiving 500 books.

Maps

Maps (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Wayne County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Newspapers

Small town newspapers contain obituaries, birth or death notices, community news (such as the visit of someone's relatives), legal notices and provide historical content. See Utah newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Utah Digital Newspapers Project presents newspaper images online. Search All Newspapers by name or keywords, or Browse by County to view all newspapers digitized for Wayne County, Utah Genealogy.

Obituaries

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, and living family members. See Utah Obituaries for state level compendiums and United States Obituaries for tips and insights regarding this record type.

Family History Centers

Libraries

Wayne County Bookmobile Library79 North 100 WestBicknell UT, 84715, Wayne CountyPhone: 435-425-3170The bookmobile apears to be the closest thing to a public library for Wayne County. It makes thirty-three stops in three counties (Sevier, Juab and Wayne), serving thirty communities and six schools. There are over 6,000 books on the bookmobile. It is not known what genealogy holdings the bookmobile has.

Vital Records

Vital Records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Wayne County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Utah Death Certificates 1904 - 1956A free internet access to the 1904-1956 death certificates can be viewed on the Family SearchRecord Search . Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.